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Ayo Gorkhali - here come the Gurkhas, the now famous battle cry of the Gurkhas, may once again be changed to Ayo Joanna Lumley as she joins the fight to prevent the Government cutting millions of pounds from legal aid.

Margaret Wilkie | Thu, 17 Feb. 2011 at 13:13

Could Kenneth Clark, the Justice Secretary, become the next to yield to what can only be called the brilliant campaign style of Ms Lumley? Her support for the Gurkhas in their fight to secure better rights for those wanting to remain in the United Kingdom, was relentless. Ms Lumley has now, together with legal experts, the Bar Council and the Law Society, turned her attention to the proposed cuts to the legal aid budget.

Ms Lumley is backing the Sound Off for Justice campaign saying that without legal aid cases like the Gurkha Justice Campaign "could never have been fought, let alone won".

"Everyone has a right to be heard," she said.

"I believe justice is only just if it is available to everyone."

The Bar Council and the Law Society, representing barristers and solicitors in England and Wales, said the cuts "could end up costing rather than saving taxpayers' money, with a devastating effect on access to justice"

Mr Clarke launched the Ministry of Justice's Green Paper last November. In it are plans to axe civil legal aid for a wide range of disputes, and includes disputes over relationship break-ups, school admissions and expulsions, as well as clinical negligence. The proposals would help save £350 million over the next four years.

Stephen Cobb QC, chairman of the Family Law Bar Association, said the proposals would trigger "a surge in DIY litigants which risks gridlock in the courts, as they struggle to get justice".

"The threats posed by the Government's proposals are real and potentially brutal," he said."In family cases, men or women suffering from serious psychological abuse may go unrepresented in private law proceedings.

"Parents, without representation, could face the removal of their children into care if the court finds reasonable grounds for believing that the children are suffering significant harm.

"Consumers suffering at the hands of negligent corporate entities may have to fund their own claims.

"The list is extensive."

He went on: "More people will face courtroom ordeals, without the benefit of experienced lawyers to advise them as to their rights and guide them through court procedures.

"Instead, where would-be litigants may be advised not to bring a claim, or to settle, they will turn to the courts alone.

"The impact on the court system will be longer trials, more appeals, more costs and the risk of miscarriages of justice.

"Worse still, without the help and support of a proper system of legal aid, vulnerable people whose rights have been infringed may not be in a position to pursue those rights at all. This is not the type of justice that a civilised society should expect."

Mr Cobb added: "We fear these attempted cuts, being so crude and brutal, will cost more than they save.

"In the absence of proper or reliable evidence on which the proposals are based, and our identification of clear unintended consequences, the Government cannot say with any confidence that the proposed cuts will not end up costing as much as it is trying to save.

"Put simply, the proposals don't add up."

Linda Lee, the Law Society's president, said: "We recognise that in this tough economic climate tough decisions need to be made, but these must not risk doing lasting damage to access to justice.

"We believe what is currently on the table is just another example of panic-stricken cuts.

"We believe these cuts are ill conceived and unfair and that the Government risks doing long-lasting damage to justice in this country. Sound Off For Justice aims to give the public the voice to say no."